Outlet fitting for electric circuits



Nov. 3, 1942. H. c. CONTEVILLE OUTLET FITTING FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS Filed Nov. 13, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l fhi! f tlioi':

HENR/QUE CARLQS CON TEV/LL/E/ flyfla Nov. 3, 1942. H. c. CONTEVILLE 45 OUTLET FITTING FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS I Filed Nov. 13,1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HENRIQUE CARLOS coma/ELL: flan J01 fa/hays.

Patented Nov. 3, 1942 OUTLET FITTING FOR ELECTRIC CIRQUIFPS 7 Henrique Carlos Contev'ille, Rio de Janciro, Brazil Application November 13, 1940, Serial No. 365,457 v In Brazil November 14, 1939 V V v 4 Claims. 173-338) The present invention refers to outlet fittings for electric circuits. I

The main object of the present invention is to provide an improved outlet fitting for electric circuits adapted to eliminate the necessity of the use of a ladder or the like fora person standing at fioor level to insert in or withdraw from its socket an electric lamp or the like located beyond the reach of ones arm.

As it is known from everyday experience, the

insertion, forinstance, of an electric lamp'or' the removal thereof from its socket has heretofore been a difficult operation whenever the lamp holder is located at an elevated position, such as high ceilings and like positions. For such purposes, the most frequent solution consists in resorting to the use of ladders, which solution, however, is evidently inconvenient in that it is wasteful of time, laborious and troublesome, specially so when one imagines that ladders are not always available at the place.

It has heretofore been proposed to use a contrivance made up of resilient, curved strips arranged so as to form a central hollow spaceof the approximate shape of an ordinary-electric lamp mounted at one end of a long woodenrod, which was to be operated from the floor by catching the lamp into said central hollow for screwing the lamp in or off its socket. Such contrivance, however, has no reference at all'to any 5 modification in the outlet fitting itself and acts directly upon the lamp or the like. A contrivance of this type is of limited application, is not adapted to all types of installations met with in ordinary practice, and even when applicable, its'ap-' plication is difiicult and unsatisfactory, as proved by actual experience, so much so that its use has never met with general approval, the old method of climbing a ladder being still preferred at present.

The improved outlet fitting of the present invention is intended to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages, and for this purpose the invention deals with an entirelynovel construction of the outlet fitting itself intended to be mounted" at locations situated beyond arm's reach. Theoutlet fitting of the present invention is composed of two half-parts, a fixed part rigidly attached to the ceiling or similar inaccessible position, and a detachable part adapted to be attached to or detached from said fixed part by a person standing at floor level by means of a suit able forked or otherwise shaped contrivance mounted at the end of a long insulating rod, said when the fixed and detachable fixed and detachable parts being provided with locking means of any suitable construction adapt.-

ed to allow the detachable part to. be readily attached to or removed from its position relatively to the fixed part, by an operator standing at' fi'oor level;

The fixed part is providedwith two contact pieces electrically insulated from each other and adapted to be permanently connected'to either side of the electricalwiring, said contact pieces being of appropriate construction to provide for easy engagement with corresponding contact pieces mounted in the detachable'part and to maintain good electrical contact with the latter parts are locked together in normal position;

The detachable part is also provided with .two contact pieces electrically insulated from each other, which' are connected to either side of an ordinary lamp holder orthe like, these said contact pieces being so arranged as to providejfor easy engagement with the above mentioned correspondin contact pieces mounted in the fixed part and-to maintain good electrical contact with 1, the latter when the fixed and "detachable parts are locked, together in their normal operating position.

The detachable part of the outlet fitting of" the invention may have the lamp holder'or like receptacle for a similardelectrical apparatus mounted directly therein, or else, according'to the type of the installation, there may be mount ed in said detachable part any desirable electrical fixture, in which'latter are then mounted the lamps or like apparatus.

The detachable part isp ovid'ed with a complemental piece pivotally or otherwise connected to the body of the said detachable part, this said complemental piece being provided with a portion so shaped and arranged as to be readily caught in the said forked or otherwise shaped contrivance when the latter is operated from the floor level through its mountingrod, and, when thus caught,'to allow the detachable part being moved relativelyto the fixed part either for mu-" tual attachment of'the said two partsin their normal operating position, or for removal of the detachable part. Theipivotal connection between the said complemental piece and the body portion of the detachable part is preferably used in order to enable said detachable partto be kept in an approximately vertical position] while being raised to its elevatedpositio-n in the ceiling or similar location Or lo weredffrom said elevated position.

The above is a general disclosure of the device of the invention, which, however, may obviously be varied in its construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For the sake of clearness, and by way of example, the invention will be described hereinafter in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the improved outlet fitting of the invention, with the two halfparts "separated to show details of the internal construction of the device;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view'o'f the'appa ratus of Fig. 1, showing the two half-parts 'at-,

tached together and interlocked in their normal operating position;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing the two half-parts separated from each other; r

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the two half-parts interlocked in their normal operating position;

Fig. 5 illustrates the guiding and lodging slots formed in the fixed half-parts and the projecting end of the shaft-pin of the detachable part, which cooperate to lock the said two parts together;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view showing the detachable part caught in the forked contrivance used for inserting the detachable part in position relatively to the fixed part and for theremoval of the fixed part, which operation is to perform from the floor level; and

Fig. 7 is an elevational view showing a globecarrying fixture mounted in the detachable part of the outlet fitting.

Referring to the drawings, the particular embodiment of the invention therein illustrated comprises the fixed part I and the detachable part 2. I

The fixed part I includes a circular base portion I and a depending cylindrical body portion 8 open at the lower end. The fixed part I is arranged to be rigidly attached to the ceiling or similar location by securely fixing thereto the base portion 1, the cylindrical body portion 8 depending therefrom with the open end thereof lowermost. At the bottom of the cylindrical body 8 are mounted the two contact pieces 4-4 which are to be connected to the electrical wiring through the leads 44'. The contact pieces 4 are shaped like segments of a circle, each of which covering an appreciable portion of the area of the bottom surface of the cylindrical body 8, this construction ensuring the proper cooperation between'the contact pieces 4 and the corresponding contact pieces 5 of the detachable part 8 when the latter is raised from the floor level for attachmentwith the fixed part I. The walls of the depending body portion 8 are provided with two diametrically opposite slots 9, which are arranged to receive and interlock with the shaft pin ID of the detachable part 2, in the manner to be presently described. The slots 9 include an upright portion which starts at the lower edge of the cylindrical wall 8 and continues up to a predetermined height in the said wall, said upright portion terminating into a curved closed portion, the said curved portion for either slot being oppositely directed, as better illustrated in Fig. 1. The final closed end of these said slots terminates at a. level slightly lower than the highest level reached by the upright portion, such as illustrated at 9' in Fig. 5;

whereby a safe resting position is secured for pin II] of the detachable part 2, from which resting position the said pin I0 can only be raised by intentional action.

The detachable part 2 includes a circular base portion I and an upright cylindrical body portion 8', similar, respectively, to the cylindrical base I and cylindrical body portion 8 of the fixed part I. The diameter of the upright cylindrical portion 8' of the detachable part 2 is such as to fit closely the interior of the depending cylindrical portion 8 of the fixed part I. Two tubular pieces IIII are rigidly fixed to the bottom of the upright cylindrical portion 8 with their upper ends open to receive the two floating electrical 7 contact pieces 55. Before insertion of the contact pieces 55, two helical springs I2--I2 are introduced into the tubular pieces II-II, the lower ends of said springs resting on the bottom of said tubular pieces, while the upper ends thereof provide a floating like supporting means for the contact pieces 55, which are thus springpressed against the corresponding contact pieces 44 of the fixed part I when the two half-parts are interlocking. The contact elements 5-I I- I2 are permanently connected to the terminals of an ordinary lamp holder or the like I3. In the upright cylindrical body portion 8' is rotatably mounted a shaft-pin II], which pierces the wallsof the cylindrical body 8' at diametrically opposite points, the ends of said pin I0 projecting a short distance beyond the walls of said body portion 8'. The pin I6 of the detachable part 2 is adapted for cooperating with the slots 9 of the fixed part I in'guiding the movable part 2 during its insertion in place and its removal from the fixed part I and in positively interlocking the two half-parts in their normal operating position, which cooperation takes place between the slots 9 and the outer ends of the pin I0 projecting beyond the walls of the upright cylindrical body 8. The pin I6 serves also, by its protecting ends, for pivotally mounting a complemental piece 3 which plays an important part in the improved device of the invention, and hereinafter described. The complemental piece 3 is formed with an approximately U-shaped depression or pocket 6, of suitable form and dimensions for a prong or forked contrivance (to be described hereinafter) to be readily received and firmly held therein when said forked contrivance is operated from fioor level through its long wooden handle. A forked contrivance adapted to operate the detachable part 2 from floor level comprises a preferably metallic implement I4, one end of which is formed into a fork-like shape I6, the other end thereof being adapted to be fixed by means of screws or otherwise to a long wooden handle or rod IT. The metallic piece I4 is formed with a curved portion I5, to prevent its coming into contact with a globe or other similar apparatus mounted in the detachable part 2 when the latter is raised vertically. The fork-shaped end I6 of the contrivance I4 is so made that, when operated from floor level, it can easily be made to catch the U shaped depression or pocket 6 of the complemental piece 3 and to firmly hold the latter between its prongs for the attachment and removal of the detachable part 2 relatively to the fixed part I. The locking action between the forked end I6 of the contrivance I4 and the pocket 6 of the complemental piece} is sufiiciently positive, so that, when the contrivance I4 is operated from the floor level through the handle H, the detachable part 2 can be rotated relatively to the fixed part I for insertion of the pin I of the detachable part 2 into the lowered curved and closed end 9 of the slots 9 of the fixed part I, and removal thereof of the said pin ID. The locking action between the contrivance I4 and the complemental piece 3 is also sufficiently positive to allow the detachable part 2 being kept in vertical position when operated through the handle II, either to force the detachable part into its operating position in the fixed part I or to withdraw the said detachable from the fixed part I. The pivotal connection of the complemental piece 3 with the upright cylindrical boy 8' of the detachable part 2 serves the purpose of allowing the latter, together with the lamp, globe or the like mounted therein, to be kept in approximately vertical position when being raised up to the ceiling or like elevated position or lowered to the ground. When the detachable part is locked in its normal operating position, the said pivotal connection serves also for permitting the complemental piece 3 to drop down and rest against the upright Wall 8 of the detachable part 2 in such a way as to be concealed from view as much as possible, for the sake of good appearance.

When it is desired to operate from the floor level to insert in place the detachable part 2, the forked end I6 of the contrivance I4 is made to catch the pocket 6 of the complemental piece 3, whereupon the detachable part, with the pieces mounted therein, is raised through the handle ll of the contrivance I4 and assumes a vertical position; the upper end of the upright cylindrical wall 8' of the detachable part 2 is then inserted into the lower open end the depending cylindrical hollow portion 8 of the fixed part I and through the handle H, the detachable part is rotated till the diametrically opposite ends of the pin ID meet the diametrically opposite slots 9 of the fixed part I, the detachable part being then pushed further up until the pin II! reaches the higher curved portion of slots 9 of the fixed part, whereupon the detachable part 2 is again rotated by means of the handle I! until the ends of the pin II] are brought to lodge within the lowered curved closed end 9' of slots 9 of the fixed part I. The two half-parts of the outlet fitting will then be firmly locked in their normal operating position.

For removal of the detachable part 2, from floor level, the operation is the reverse of the foregoing. Through the handle I! the forked end I6 of the contrivance I 'I is made to catch the pocket 6 of the complemental piece 3 and the detachable part 2 is then rotated relatively to the fixed part I for dislodging the ends of the pin I8 out of the curved closed ends 9 of slots 9 in the fixed part I, the detachable part 2 then dropping down with the ends of pin I0 sliding down along the slots 9 till the detachable part 2 is finally completely separated from the fixed part I, whereupon the detachable part 2 is brought down to the floor level, during which time it is kept constantly at an approximately vertical position by virtue of the pivotal connection between the complemental piece 3 and the detachable part 2.

The detachable part 2 may be arranged to mount directly an ordinary lamp holder I3 for an electric lamp I 4, and, if desired, also a globe I or a like accessory, as illustrated in Fig. 6. However, instead of mounting the lamp I4 directly on the detachable part 2, the latter may, if desired, be arranged to mount for instance, a fixture such as I8 carrying arms I9 for the lamp and globes I5, as illustrated in Fig. 7 or else, as it is obvious, instead of the fixture I8 there may be mounted in the said detachable part 2 any other accessories, such, for instance, as globe carrying chains or the like.

As it will be obvious to those familiar with the art, many constructional modifications may be introduced into the improved outlet fitting of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. It is therefore to be understood that the invention is not to be limited in any way by the particular embodiment thereof described in detail hereinbefore and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the invention being considered as limited only by the claims below.

Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and the manner in which it is to be performed, I claim:

1. In a separate electrical outlet fitting having a stationary base portion with contacts connected to a current source and adapted to be fixed in place beyond arms reach from the floor, and a socket portion having corresponding contacts and adapted to be detachably assembled with said base portion and to receive a base member of an electric lamp or electrical appliance, the combination of a mechanical connection for attaching the socket portion by partial axial rotation, and a swingable handle pivotally mounted at opposite sides of said socket portion so as to be capable of being seized or engaged by means of a forked implement to partially rotate said socket member and release the same from said base portion while carrying said socket portion suspended by said swingable handle.

2. A separable electrical fitting according to claim 1, having a bail member forming the swingable handle with a shaft passing transversely through the socket portion forming at its outer ends the pivotal mounting means of said handle or bail member, the latter being of sufiicient length to allow the same to swing up over the socket member so that the same hangs pendently directly beneath said ball member.

3. A separable electrical fitting according to claim 1, having a bail member forming the swingab-le handle and in which th mechanical connection between the base and socket members includes a bayonet joint with the slotted portions in the walls upon said base member and the pin portions cooperating with said slotted portions constitute pivotal mountings for the ends of said bail member.

4. A separable electrical fitting according to claim 1, having a bail member forming the swingable handle with a shaft passing transversely through the socket portion forming at its outer ends the pivotal mounting means of said handle or bail member, the latter being of sufiicient length to allow the same to swing up over the socket member so that the same hangs pendently directly beneath said bail member, and having a bayonet joint forming the mechanical connection between the base and socket members, with the slotted portions in the walls of said base member and the pin portions cooperating therewith include the exterior end portions of said shaft supporting the bail member, the latter remaining wholly outside the base and socket members in assembled condition of the latter.

HENRIQUE CARLOS CONTEVILLE. 

